12-30 Just off the water Cumberland FNF

[FlyLie]

It's 4:12 and I literally just tied the boat to the dock and walked in the houseboat frustrated. The float n fly is on but I never boated a single fish. I fished Indian Creek @ bluff walls and elongated rocky points and gots bites everywhere I went. I missed about half the fish on hook set and lost the other half on the way to the boat.

Jeff

Interesting...what time of the day were you in Indiana? I went in there around noon, but the wind was up and I couldn't hold the boat on the banks I wanted to fish. Wound up going into one of the Indian feeder creeks for a couple of hours and scratched out two short fish .

Good to hear someone and a nice one on the line. For me, 2 short fish on FNF.

[Trick Daddy]

Boone,

I headed out around 10 am came in around 1 for lunch. Headed back out around 1:30 and finished up around 4. I'm in a white Bullet 20XD if you see me out stop and say hello.

Jeff

[MIC]

I fished around Burnside (mostly South Fork) from 10 to 4 and did not boat a fish. The water in the S.Fork looks great but the North Fork is muddy.

[blue superpro210]

Did you put in in Lilly Creek? I saw a bullet with two guys coming in about that time.

[CHRISC]

Did you put in in Lilly Creek? I saw a bullet with two guys coming in about that time.

No that was me! I usually don't like blue in a boat but yours sure looked good in the water today!!

[know1]

Seems like your line weight was excessive. But you do say you were getting bites, so maybe that's not the problem.

[Trick Daddy]

Fished from 11a to 1:30 p today. Air temp in the mid 40's water still at 49. Very cloudy skies. Boated 3 on the FNF and missed two more. Took a bigger swing today with the fly rod and it increased my catch rate. I'm still fishing in Indian Creek... Fished Browns Creek today and all my bites come on points or transitions from chunk rock to shale. I was more than half way back in the creek.

Jeff

[Trick Daddy]

1-5-10

Fished Indian again today 1p-3p
Water Temp 47*
Air Temp 20*
Mostly Cloudy
Extremely windy

Fished the fly with dope and points and ledges

boated 1 smallie 2.5 lbs.

Jeff

[nonamesleft47]

Your leader isn't the reason you are losing fish, if the leader was the issue the fish wouldn't bite at all. I normally use 8 lb floro for my leader tied off to 10 lb braid main line.

The long/light rod takes some getting used to. A sweeping hook set could help. I normally set my drag light and do not backwind at all (why people backwind when float and fly fishing is beyond me). On the hook set I palm the spool, make a sweeping hook set and make sure it's really hooked up before I start playing it.

When I f-n-f I use a 8.5 medium action steelhead rod. It has better action and you have more control over the fish. I know alot of guys use the light action buggy whips but I just can't see where you can have any kind of control over the fish that way, especially in Cumberland where you have a chance at a big striper. Also with the 8.5 ft rod I have no problem throwing a 12 foot leader from the boat. In fact when I first started f-n-f I used a 6.5 foot rod and still had no problem lob casting. It's more about the cast you make than the rod length. Losing fish is frustrating, that's why all of my light action rods went to the yard sale last summer.

If you want to try a steelhead rod bass pro has them, Browning makes the one I have and it's a great rod. I think you'll be pleased with it over the fly rod.

[FlyLie]

Jeff, OK, you are down for a few days/weeks...so let's get you on some SMALLMOUTH VIA FNF. No..No...No more Ky's (stay out of the feeder creeks and off the wood if you want quality fish). OK, I'm going to give you one (dam I hope I do!) BUT, YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF BED...GET OUT OF BED...GET OUT OF BED,AND BE ON THE LAKE NO LATER THAN 6:45 AM,,, YES I SAID AM. Thursday will be the best day we have had in the last week since newyears eve! KYGorsik and I will be out there in my 17 FT LUND, 20 degrees and 6 - 12 mph wind, HE...Haw..

Tomorrow, Thursday is going to be a great smallmouth FNF day. 100% overcast with snow (smallmouth don't like light, so overcast skies, a little wind and some snow fall make for great conditions) .

You are lanching out of Grinder Hill (Correct?). Then go South and while you are still in the NO WAKE Zone, you will see the point on the EAST side going into Brown Creek. Fish the HELL out of it, as well as the point across from the creek entrance (South side, as well as all along the the south bank). Wind will be out of the South, SouthWest and blowing bait onto the banks/points.

Now as far as your tackel, etc. 10 foot leader with 6 lb fluro will be fine, anything stronger is just a waste. MOST IMPORTANT, KEEP ALL SLACK OUT OUT YOUR LINE . ALWAY KEEP REELING IN, EVEN IF IT IS ONLY A HALF TURN OR TWO ON THE REEL. NOW, WHEN THAT "BOBBER TURNS OVER" OR "GOES DOWN" "RAISE THAT ROD STRAIGHT UP" (I don't use the sweep hook set some others suggest). Straight up and you will get a GREAT HOOK SET in the top of the fishes MOUTH !! Keep your boat as far from shore as you can cast, i.e., 50 plus feet. Reason, the boat spooks fish. GO SLOW AND QUITE...SLOW AND QUITE..

Have a GREAT Day and give us a report.

Boone

[Trick Daddy]

Ok Boone,

Thanks for the tips! I'll be out when suggested, where suggested and rigged as suggested.

Are you coming down this way? If so I'll look for your Lund. I'm in a solid white Bullet 20XD.

I'm not launching, boats already in the water. I'm on the houseboat so if you need a place to warm your bones, I'm here.


FYI... I went out today and blanked.

Jeff

[FlyLie]

Ok Boone,

Thanks for the tips! I'll be out when suggested, where suggested and rigged as suggested.

Are you coming down this way? If so I'll look for your Lund. I'm in a solid white Bullet 20XD.

I'm not launching, boats already in the water. I'm on the houseboat so if you need a place to warm your bones, I'm here.


FYI... I went out today and blanked.

Jeff

Good Luck,
Good to know there is a WARM PLACE in the area, as the lake will be COLD AS HELL!!! Will be in a Blue Lund....just might see you around Indian Creek...If that wind doesn't hold to the forecast....then just have to work with it...DAM